Anyone Got Time For Hand Knitting Anymore

Discussion in 'Hobbies & Crafts' started by Krissttina Isobe, Oct 22, 2015.

  1. Krissttina Isobe

    Krissttina Isobe Veteran Member
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    :oops:I love hand knitting. So when my Mother's friend wanted to teach us at church I jumped at the chance to e learn. I already know how to hand crochet and like it, just got no time to crochet or knit anymore! I like the finish products you can create with you crochet and knit. Crocheting and knitting is so relaxing and I miss it!:(
     
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  2. Jenn Windey

    Jenn Windey Supreme Member
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    I knit using a loom, I find it to be one of the few things that are really relaxing. I used to do more hand craft work, like embroidery and needlepoint, but I seem to have arthritis in my thumb and it sometimes locks up on me. Living in a region that gets lots of snow in the winter I am motivated to keep making socks. I find the time to do this by simply taking about an half hour or so in the evening to wind down. there is something almost hypnotic about doing the stitches. I find a sort of calm where I am able to focus on the stuff in my mind.

    I had read a study some time ago that said certain artistic activities, like painting or knitting can put a person into a similar brain wave pattern as someone that is in meditation. I truly can say this is what happens to me. As a complete experience I love going to the store and feeling and seeing all the yarns. maybe someday I will learn how to do it with needles. With the loom I do not have to count and I is almost impossible to miss a stitch. I have two looms, a smaller one for things like socks and scarves and a much larger one for blankets, it will actually produce sections that are five feet a crossed. I have been making an afghan of very soft llama wool yarn in colors that are like the fall, orange, black and a lovely tan like shade, one solid, one is multi-colored in the same vue.
     
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  3. Joe Riley

    Joe Riley Supreme Member
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    My contribution: A Scottish Knitting Poem
    [​IMG]
     
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  4. Yvonne Smith

    Yvonne Smith Senior Staff
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    I really enjoy knitting, especially during the cold winter months. The projects that I enjoy are small ones, hats, gloves, socks, and scarves. They are simple to do, and do not take forever to make.
    When Robin was little, I decided to make her a throw for her bed.
    By the time she was an adult, I had the throw about 2 feet long, and she ended up putting it over the back of her couch instead.
    So much for making bed throws !

    When the kids were growing up, I always made them slippers, and those can be made out of all kinds of leftover scraps of yarn, so that was how I used up my leftover yarn. I still like making slippers; but have kind of gotten sidetracked with making the throw rugs from thegrocery bags, since those are so easy to make, and also can use up scrap yarn.
     
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  5. Diane Lane

    Diane Lane Veteran Member
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    I've tried to knit, but just don't seem to be able to get the hang of it. If things ever slow down, I'm going to try again, and also try out a couple of small looms I have.

    I crochet a lot, mainly small items, although I used to make quite a few afghans and rugs. Yarn has gotten prohibitively expensive, so I stick to the smaller projects for now.
     
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  6. Joe Riley

    Joe Riley Supreme Member
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    Diane, if you run out of yarn, have Ike or Sheldon spin you one! HA!
     
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  7. Yvonne Smith

    Yvonne Smith Senior Staff
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    I just finished crocheting one of the yarn and plastic bag (plarn) throw rugs for a friend of @Ina I. Wonder , and mailed out to her.
    It actually took it over a week to get from here to there, even though we are not that far apart. I sent the rug with 2-day mail, so I was not happy that it took so long !
    When I asked the Post Office about it, they said that 2-day Mail just means that they "try " to get it there fast; but no guarantees of how long it will take.
    Then I made a pair of socks for my friend in Idaho for her birthday, and am now knitting a pair of socks for my sister-in-law on the West Coast. Naturally, she wanted hers in "Seahawks colors".
    I enjoy making socks because they are small, and easy to knit.
    Sometimes, I listen to interesting programs on YouTube while I knit or crochet, and other times, I just put on the headphones and listen to music.
    Either way, it is an enjoyable way to relax, and sometimes , learn something new, all at the same time.
     
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  8. Diane Lane

    Diane Lane Veteran Member
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    @Jenn Windey Jenn, Do you make the socks on a loom? If so, which loom do you use? I might be able to manage a loom, even though I can't seem to get the hang of needles. I have the same issue with my thumbs, arthritis and tendinosis, as well. Sometimes it's impossible to do anything, but other times I'm able to do some intricate work.
     
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  9. Yvonne Smith

    Yvonne Smith Senior Staff
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    I have never tried making much of anything on a loom; but I remember the old "spool knitting" technique. It used to be that thread spools were made of wood, and if you put tiny nails in the top, and took off the nail head, then you had a kind of round loom, and you just kept hooking the stitches over the top, and you had a tube of whatever length you wanted.
    If you had a larger loom of a similar design , then it should be possible to make tube socks with it, since you could just knit the tube, and then sew up the toe end.
    I like making tube socks, too; but I do it using the 4-needles, just like I do with the socks with heels.

    Have you ever tried DMSO for your arthritis, @Diane Lane ? I use it on any part that is stiff or sore, and it helps a lot.
    It has been used by athletes and veterinarians for many years, and I first got it for my horses, and then started using it on myself.
    For a long time, you could only get it at the feed store or tack shop; but now you can find DMSO on Amazon, and even in some health stores.
    I have a bottle that I mix half and half with water, and then use in a small spray bottle, plus I also have a roll-on that works in places where spraying is not easy to do. Between the two of those, I can get it on almost any part of me that hurts.
    When I put it on my feet, I usually do it at bedtime, and then put on a pair of socks to help it go into the foot.
    It actually has the same thing as MSM has; which is also used a lot for arthritis pain and stiffness.
     
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  10. Carlota Clemens

    Carlota Clemens Veteran Member
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    I remember how hard was for me to learn hand knitting because I didn't know (and not yet still) how to take the weaving hook or knitting needles correctly, yet I learned to knit and liked to make my own scarves.

    Eventually, I changed knitting for cross stitching, making great table clothes and napkins for my mom.

    As time went by and technology came up, I was leaving behind all those hand crafts that I loved to do, having no time for them, even when I have still threads and needles just in case one day I have some spare time for crafts.
     
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  11. Krissttina Isobe

    Krissttina Isobe Veteran Member
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    :oops:Hand knitting is the same way to relax!
     
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  12. Von Jones

    Von Jones Supreme Member
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    I was curious about hand knitting so I checked out some YouTube how to videos on it. I can do this too. So yeah, I have lots of yarn and the time now. It's easy and looks fun.
     
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  13. Ina I. Wonder

    Ina I. Wonder Supreme Member
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    When we were doing orientation in the VA's volunteer break room, I noticed all sorts of boxes stack to the ceiling. I had an hour an a half to wait before I could go any further with the process of getting signed up. I decided to spend the time in the break room reading on my iPad. Well at that time three of the regular volunteers started opening boxes, and then I noticed that they were setting up about a dozen large baby bags. Then they started filling them each bags with baby clothing and blankets. Of course I had to ask about their project. I was told that many young service personnel were women now days, and with the cost of anything relating to children, many young mothers were having trouble with the basics.

    The reason I go through this story is that it made me think of you ladies. Your local VA would love your handmade products. I was told that little caps, socks, booties, onezies (?), and small blankets were things they always need. And I bet the permanent VA residents would love to have such items as socks and scarves. The VA can use all the donations like this that they can get.
     
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